The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-25
MAMA LOA'S MIGHTY WORK.
but Appalling Demonstra-
tnnOfNature's Tremendous Forces.
river Of Lava and Fire Twenty Miles in
lsngth and Mile and Half in Width
Finding Its Way Across Plain to the Sea.

tg,v FRANCISCO, Feb. 24-The steamer Aus
t,sia. which arrived this morning from Honu
,rlu brings full particulars of the great lava
nK from Mauna Loa. The sight is described
| ! magnificent beyond description. The column
4 frs was first observed from the summit of the
sasr On the night of Jan. 16.
The fire died down before mid
,eht out great volcanic disturbances
tHozed in quick succession, up to the night of
rom the mountain side. The length of the
Gov Is estimated at twenty miles. This
lstance the lava accomplished in two days,
/ msesding as it descended, and reaching
hessa on the evening of Jan. 20. The stream
dfa continued to flow without interruption
tlthe 29tb when q river of fire burst forth,
| slowing the line of the lava flow. When the
(! ts lowed out the heavy earthquake ceased,
| though slight tremors were felt at intervals
| asssaster
| Major Benson, of the United States army, Wis
la the coast where the flow of lava entered the
m He thus describes the scene witnessed by
fn after nghtfall on Jan. 90:
With increased darkness, point after point of
4 Hswas developed along the entire course of the
sav sAtil 9 elimination was reached 1t 2:30 A.
iA, when liquid fire belched forth from
10 crater far above, to height of $50
bet Major Benson travelled to the head of the
i hF on the 3lst. He describes it as follows
lH the center of great masses of rough black
/ AT was the crater, about 125 feet in circumfer-
@t' around which p circle of living fire formed
y intervals About three hundred yards
Mov the crater molten lava poured
4 lann IN streams from fssures In the
Mountain side Numerous other smaller craters
h0 emitted smaller streams of lava At times
As entire group Of craters shot forth huge
oaguss Of fire. simultaneously, followed by i'm
asrse streams of lara. These demonstrations
slanded at intervals for some time"
hsv s E Bishop, we'll known in the scion
un world, visited the scene ON Feb. l, after
'm rush OF fire was over. He writes as follows
ihs northwest eide Of the flow presents a
ahgat, solid embankment, forty feet high,
Ma some places one and half mile
aae The flow oyerreaches the original
Easy line from two hundred to five
| tsaased feet making thirty acres of new land.
~ ~ can' perhaps. partially imagine how that
sae OF hIe and rocks, nearly mile wide, rolled
~ ,ss week over the shore into the deep and con-
'3Se ocean have no powers of imagination
Il conceive the awful splendor of the
s,,'sard charge of that mile broad deluge
me- nor the horror of the clash and
M ssS with which that vast wall of
m,ng rock and cinder pressed forward over the
A. ssa, p'ng up on the plain, and crashing into
AZ yea Mr. Bishop states that the present
lsss .l mncn greater in quantity thar that of
so seiag twice the length of the latter and Of
sss'er depth. he also calls attention to All inter
H. ~.aas volcanic fact observed in standing around
N. %nasoutn @ point Of Hawaii. This was remark
r,esace ssrface layer Of yellow ochre, or similar
sser' many feet in depth, He believes this
@yer OF yellow ashes distributed from
~ '1le pl eruption, probably thousands of years
Im.ns .nsierrlng to this discovery, he states: 1--WE
n,~..s enabled to determine the remarkable and
nG.als tact that at recent period, although
pI"r' pI1eot'c, there was an explosive eruption of
( lys .eer slneer which covered at least one hun.
~ i .saare aa miles with yellow ashes several
aen.m lnlckness.' He concludes: II hereby
Ia Ave: saseat for this discovery in case no one
Jasso Jassoroed q patent of prior date"
&sk 81 y. y IL Hitchcock writes, under date of
&Hra, from from Hiloka: 1--WE are experiencin :
Eesyr tsaoc.s enc almost every day or night. A
4 tion i.l baor or Volcanic smoke hides Mauna Loa
4rt0, .sse' .s IL there were no further volcanic
thss,esa.e smoke would DO all blown to sea by
4 M, ue waa,s Winds which have been blowing the
4 NV i IN. AS 1t is, feel that the end of the